On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 10:45:14 +0000, asdf
wrote:

On Sat, 02 Dec 2006 09:34:36 +0000, Paul Corfield wrote:

"No need to touch out twice with Oyster

"In response to Melvyn Windebank's letter (24 November), the new
rules for Oyster cards have been implemented to benefit honest
passengers and cut down on fraud. There is no need for a passenger to
touch in and out when transferring from DLR to Tube at Bank station.

"The Oyster card can calculate the correct fare when you touch out with
the card after completing your Tube journey. The only circumstance
where a customer needs to touch in at the validators at Bank when
transferring from the Tube to DLR is when the customer has a Zone 1-2
travelcard but intends to terminate his journey outside Zone 2.

Hmmm - interesting. This is obviously to deal with the situation that
people may opt to travel via Zone 1 for journeys that may be priced on a
Z23 basis from some locations in North or East London (as per our
Tottenham Hale - Stratford mini thread).

Eh? If they have a Z12 Travelcard and make a Z3 (or Z23) journey, the
fare is the same as the Z123 fare. So touching at Bank would make no
difference to the fare charged. If anything, it's those who are using
PAYG only (i.e. who don't have Travelcards) that would need to touch
the reader.

OK fair enough. I think the official answer is somewhat daft if you have
a travelcard that is valid in Zones 12. As the card is valid there
anyway the addition of an entry transaction can't serve any real
purpose.

As you say for PAYG only it clear does serve a purpose as it highlights
travel via zone 1 rather than via a non Z1 route. Here fares quite
clearly differ so there is a reason to ensure validation.

Regardless of the journey made, I can't see any possible circumstances
under which the system would not be able to calculate the correct fare
for holders of Z12 Travelcards travelling outside their zones via Bank
without them touching the validator there, but would be able to do so
for PAYG-only users, or for holders of Z1, Z123, etc Travelcards who
are going outside their zones.

There is something nagging away in the back of my mind about this. I
take your point but there must be something odd about fare arrangements
somewhere which means there is a reason for this being required for some
travelcard holders who are extending via PAYG. The only thing I can
think of is the fact that Bank is an OSI and the arrangements for the
Waterloo and City line gating might create an odd situation requiring an
additional "in" validation for DLR journeys. It needs more thought.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!